Verse 1. Altar of holocausts, much larger than that of Moses. The one which was built after the captivity, was a square of fifteen cubits. This of Solomon was only ten in height. A sloping ascent was made up to it, according to Josephus; (Bel. vi. 5. or verse 14.) or the steps were closed in, if we believe others. See Exodus 27:1 and 20:26. It is thought ( Calmet.) that the inside of the altar was filled with earth, ( Menochius.) or with rough stones: (Exodus 20:24. D.) but that is not certain, with regard to the brazen altar. See 1 Maccabees 4:44, 47. Calmet.
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Verse 2. Sea, or great brazen vessel, and some other things that were not in the tabernacle of Moses, whose plan was followed, but with greater magnificence. Worthington.
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Verse 3. Oxen. In 3 Kennicott. 7:24 we read Hebrew “knops,” ( Bible.) or “apples.”—Of ten. Hebrew “ten in a cubit.” Hence there must have been 600 heads of oxen, as the sea was thirty cubits in circumference, and there were two rows. Calmet.—Others suppose that here were only five in each row, or only one in each cubit. See Vat. and 3 Kennicott. The Septuagint and Syr. omit this verse. Calmet.—Yet it is found in the best editions of the Septuagint Bible.
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Verse 4. Cast. Hebrew adds, “when it (the sea) was cast.” Bible.—They were done at the same time, ( Tirinus.) and were perhaps intended to let out the water. The twelve oxen, which supported the sea, were not cast along with it. D.
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Verse 5. Three. 3 Kennicott. two, may specify the usual quantity that was contained, though the vessel would absolutely hold a thousand measures, or baths, more. Bible.
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Verse 6. Holocaust, as well as all the necessary utensils.—Priests. They did not bathe in the sea, but drew water into other vessels. The Chal. supposes that the work of Beseleel was for the high priest alone. Calmet.
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Verse 9. Hall, (basilicam.) Septuagint use the same term (αυλη) as just before is rendered court; and the Prot. make no distinction, though the Hebrew terms be different. Septuagint render chatsar, “the court” of the people. There, we know, that Solomon had his tribune. Calmet. 6:13. Ezechiel (43:14) distinguishes two; the great, lower or outward, ( Bible. chatsar) or court, and that of the priests, ( Bible.) which he styles the less, and so forth The principal door lay to the east.
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Verse 10. Right, though to the left of those who entered the temple.
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Verse 12. Pommels, (epistylia.) Hebrew “cordons,” or rows of pomegranates, (3 Kennicott. 7:18) each consisting of one hundred; so that at the two pillars were adorned with a double row, both together would have four hundred. Calmet.—The precise number is fixed at ninety-six for each row. Jeremiah 52:23. Tirinus.
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Verse 16. His father. Hebrew Abib, which is considered by some as a surname, ( Menochius.) or the title may be given to Hiram, on account of his skill. Calmet.—He is so called by the king of Tyre, (Calmet. 2:13) for having instructed him in the true faith. Worthington.
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Verse 17. Saredatha, or Sarthan, (3 Kennicott. 7:46) not far from Bethsan. 3 Kennicott. 4:12. Calmet.
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Verse 21. Flowers. They represented lilies or other flowers ( Tirinus.) full-blown, when the lamps were burning. All the branches were of pure gold. Calmet.
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Verse 22. Mortars, to hold the fine flour. Menochius.—And thus. Here the fifth chapter commences, in Hebrew and Sept.
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A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.
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or, pool, or, reservoir
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A bath is about 5.6 U. S. gallons or 21.1 liters, so 3,000 baths is about 16,800 gallons or 63.3 kiloliters.